Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Shanghide And Seek...

Most of it was from people commenting that Disney isn't being honest or that they are outright lying about the reason behind the lack of artwork for the new park. Some of those comments are valid, but they're also not. Let me explain from what I know or have heard Bothans explain to me.

One point is that many have said it's not true about the artwork since the park is basically a carbon copy of Disneyland. How could companies copy something that is already out there? Fair enough. But Hong Kong Disneyland isn't an exact copy, but a detailed, pale image. The castle is an exact copy of Disneyland's famous icon, but the park is a very lushly detailed collection of attractions found throughout many other Disney theme parks, but they do have their own look. And that look has been copied at several local amusement parks. Disney Suits and WDI Suits noticed this and it was planned from at least a year ago to not inially release a great deal of artwork. It doesn't mean we won't get more, but it won't all be out there at once like before.

That doesn't address the two biggest problems that HKDL had. One is the most obvious to Disney Fans: size. The park was under built. It wasn't built looking cheaply though. The park is quite detailed and filled with little bits of embellishing that are common to most Disney parks. The problem was that attractions that people expected and were initially announced as being part of the park didn't show up. They were cut and expected to be included in a future expansion phase. This was the shortsightedness of the last decade of Eisner and his underlings.

The other part was the cultural aspect which Eisner and even some Imagineers didn't take into account. Not that they didn't expect some changes based on cultural need. Truthfully, one of the reasons certain attractions weren't built (Snow White, ect.) was that it was felt that the Chinese people, unlike the Japanese people, had not grown up on a steady diet of Disney characters and films. Of course the conception of Main Street didn't figure into this park as it has in Shanghai. But that plan has changed as you've noticed that there is no normal interest in a traditional entrance like fans have come to expect. Planning is also going ahead with a couple attractions that actually play more on what are reflected in Chinese culture. This is something that will be unique to this area and something that the company hopes will address guest concerns about appealing to the local market.

Another comment/complaint is that they are really hiding the fact that large parts of the park remain unplanned or not even designed yet. This is true, but that's because it is five to six years out. It is understandable that parts of the park wouldn't be done yet, but simply in the idea stage. This site is called "Blue Sky" Disney, after all. If this were the state of plans in another two or three years then it would be a valid concern since they would already be deeply involved in construction. Lastly, some have mentioned that there are arguments and divisions within WDI about where or how to continue.

I have to tell you that the Bothans I talked to say that this is a common occurrence that has happened for as long as they've been working for the division. All the way back to Paris. And without the guiding hand of Walt himself, there were arguments about where and how to expand every park since his passing. Before EPCOT was built there were many divisions inside Glendale as to how to continue the project that he had planned. There were arguments as to what direction to take, how close to his vision they should stick and what type of attractions would fit the differing visions they had of the project. Debates and arguments happen all the time and so far I've heard nothing that makes me believe this isn't business as usual. Now, if there are any of you out there in the know that have evidence to refute this then, by all means, please contact me. By e-mail if you'd like with your side of the story. Don't just vent anonymous comments that come off as the ranting opinions of angry fans. Feel free to enlighten me in private.

Now, this may make some people feel that nothing is planned or done. This is also not so. There are several classic attractions that will be gratefully welcomed when announced later this year or early next depending on how the timeline is addressed. But there are also several new attractions as well. Like that mountain/water rafting attraction based on the mechanics of the Grizzly River Run, but set to an entirely new theme... ooops. Sorry, you didn't hear that. I seem to have lost track of my delete button. Oh well, I don't really have to worry because most everyone will have stopped reading before they got here.

Either way, the plans for Shanghai are evolving and expanding and that is a great thing...

I think that the recently released artwork is being used as kind of a buffer. The amount and originality of artwork and models used to pitch the park to the Chinese government was WAY more detailed and in depth than what we are seeing now. unfortunately, what they promoted to them is probably way beyond what they could actually provide.

So recent artwork is purposely low key to soften the difference between what they pitched and what they will eventually be delivering.

If you look at the first Imagineering book (published in 1995) you'll see a detailed model of DisneySea that is very close to what opened six years later. So while things are always in a certain degree of flux at WDI, the bluesky early phases for Shanghai are long completed, and there are no doubt similar models already fabricated for Shanghai (along with tons of artwork) that were used in the selling the park the Chinese.

Theme parks are like Aircraft Carriers in that the actual construction process is very long and complicated - about 4 years. The planning is done for years in advance. Of course things can and will change, but I imagine most of the park is fairly "nailed down" and architects are currently busy drafting blueprints of various buildings, rides, etc. (which will go through iterations - look at Mermaid Blue Sky Cellar for an example of this).

I've put up all the ones that were posted. Blogger was out for the entire day and several supposedly sites lost certain data. If that happened, I'm not sure. Nothing has been deleted by myself or anyone here.

WDI is very smart to keep everything under wraps. The Chinese are notorious for copying other company's R&D and making cheap rip-offs. If Disney wants something unique, at least for one year, they will keep it secret.

Oh, I'll rant... and rant! TWDC is (by far) the most dysfunctional company I've ever worked for. This is one of the reasons why they've had the huge problems that they have had in the last 15 years. By all means, chalk it up to the useless Eisner because sh...(bleep) runs downhill. But he wasn't the only idiot under the ears of that place. When DCA opened to yawns and mass disapointment, they could've changed the momentum they had on DSP and HKDL to prevent those debacles as well; but they did not. TWDC is continuing to lose ground for a multitude of reasons, not the least of which is the theme parks division. Meanwhile, their competitors will continue to gain ground as they continue to move forward exploring new properties with flexibility and innovation instead relying on stale, fool-hardy models that seek tp empty their blinded fan/customer/guest's pockets with their tired, redundant assets. TWDC's diminishment is the most entertaining feat that they've produced in decades.

“Theme parks are like Aircraft Carriers in that the actual construction process is very long and complicated - about 4 years. The planning is done for years in advance. Of course things can and will change, but I imagine most of the park is fairly "nailed down" and architects are currently busy drafting blueprints of various buildings, rides, etc. (which will go through iterations - look at Mermaid Blue Sky Cellar for an example of this).”

Looks like the “lost comments” have been returned. Yesterday there were seven comments, now we’re up to fourteen with no new ones being posted

As for the Shanghai park, yes, “pre development” takes a lot of time. I believe they have been pitching the project to the Chinese government for around ten years now. But very little is actually “nailed down” the only elements that they have any blueprints on are the clone projects that they just have to convert the drawings for. Most of the concept art and models were true blue-sky level pitch versions that have a lot of development to deal with before they can begin actual blueprints.

Then they have to deal with budget reality hits, when they will have to deal with de-scoping while trying to maintain some semblance of the design they initially pitched.